One of the UK's oldest Christian denominations - the Quakers - looks set to extend marriage services to same-sex couples at their yearly meeting later.The society has already held religious blessings for same-sex couples who have had a civil partnership ceremony.
But agreeing to perform gay marriages, which are currently not allowed under civil law, could bring the Quakers into conflict with the UK government.
The issue of active homosexuality has bitterly divided Churches.
But the BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the Quakers had been more prepared than other groups to reinterpret the Bible in the light of contemporary life.
Whilst in Australia on August 1, many members of the community rallied in cities and regional centres in support of same sex marriage, with the Sydney rally marching on the ALP/Government conferrence at Darling Harbour.
Prime Minister Rudd, and his deputy Julia Guillard vocally came out against Same Sex Marriage, refusing to lift the ban imposed by the previous Howard government, and also denying the inate human rights of Australians, by refusing to seperate church from state.
The Rudd Government has made significant changes to anti discrimination laws, but only where it benefits the government in taxation revenues and centrelink changes - the changes do nothing to create equality for all Australians regardless of sexual identity.
Over 60% of Australians support same sex marriage (Galaxy poll)
AustralianSenior.com attended the Sydney rally to see what was what, and we were surprised to see the huge amount of older Australians affected by this issue. Especially those in partnerships that have been affected by changes in Centrelink benefits, which now have placed those couples into dire circumstances.
Let us know what you think in our poll - or comment below.
Comments
i dont think the australian people are against this at all - i think the government is using it as a bargaining chip - seems like politics as usual!
If you are banning the gays from marrying on religious grounds, then why not ban straight people who dont get married in church, ban divorce's from remarrying, ban unwed mothers from tieing the knot...
its just rediculous... i think its wonderful that a couple would want to commit to each other for life!
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